Ten London Valentine’s Day events to get you in a romantic mood
Valentine’s Day is perhaps the most divisive holiday in the country. Not only do the hopeless romantics and the dyed-in-the-wool cynics clash over the importance of this day to celebrate love, but even among those who have found their special someone, there is disagreement about how best to honour the patron saint of lovers. Cosy night in or extravagant night out? Whether you’re a hardened sceptic or a doe-eyed lovebird, we’ve got you covered for the perfect Valentine’s Day dinners in London.
An intimate dinner at Launceston Place
Tucked away in Kensington, Launceston Place will be offering a Valentine’s tasting menu in the intimate dining room. Head chef Ben Murphy’s playful dishes include Egg and soldiers; Presa Iberica, Carrot, Timur and Cracker; and Yuzu, Apple, Dill. For the environmentally-conscious diner, vegetarian and vegan menus are also available. The restaurant has partnered with Roja Parfums to create bespoke his and hers cocktails to mark the occasion. Don’t miss this classy occasion.
Valentine’s dinner at Launceston Place will be £100pp, with two optional wine flights for £64 or £149pp. To book, call 020 7937 6912 or email launcestonplace@danddlondon.com.
A seven-course extravaganza at Hide Above
At Michelin-starred Mayfair spot Hide Above, diners can enjoy a lavish setting overlooking Green Park while indulging in a seven-course menu curated by executive chef Ollie Dabbous specially for the occasion. Dishes include White Asparagus with Exmoor Caviar & Crème Fraiche, Black Truffle Pasta Parcels in Warm Celeriac Broth and a Simmenthal Seven-year Beef Fillet cooked over charcoal with buckwheat waffle and foie gras. With Europe’s most comprehensive wine list, provided in partnership with Hedonism Wines, Hide’s Valentine’s Day wine flight tops off the occasion and is sure to impress. This isn’t a cheap option, with seats coming in at a maximum of £325, but will no doubt offer proportional magic. And if you fancy a romantic cocktail before your meal, head to Hide Below, Hide’s bar, for a limited run of Strawberries & Cream made with Diplomatico Planas rum, Cocchi Americano Rosa & lemon balm.
Hide’s Valentine’s meal will be available on 14th February from £150pp. To book visit Hide Above’s website here.
Iconic Indian delights at Farzi Cafe
Indian restaurant Farzi Cafe in Haymarket is offering a special Valentine’s Day menu for those who prefer their dates spicy. For a slightly less bank-breaking option that will still delight, Farzi Cafe is the place to go. The menu starts with an amuse-bouche and a Lanique rose liquor cocktail, followed by a sharing platter of five dishes, including tandoori goat shoulder and a delicately spiced quail and chicken seekh kebab. For mains, guests can choose from the likes of kale and paneer dolma spheres with truffle makhani, or pan-seared sea bass and Malay curry, all accompanied by their traditional Indian bread, dal makhani and dum pulao. The menu culminates in a beautiful valentine’s dessert, Love Is in the Air: a combination of rose & raspberry air, coconut & lime sorbet.
Farzi Cafe will also be offering more keenly priced Valentine’s lunch and early bird menus (17.00-18.15), for those looking for a romantic day out or pre-theatre stop.
Valentine’s dinner at Farzi Cafe is priced at £65, or £58 for the vegetarian option. For further information or to book visit Farzi Cafe’s website here.
A beautifully curated Japanese dinner at Akira
Looking to impress this Valentine’s Day? Sweep your love off their feet with a truly luxurious Valentine’s menu at the acclaimed Akira in Kensington and celebrate Ai, the Japanese art of love. Settle into the chic surroundings and indulge in an exquisite menu of modern Japanese food. After celebrating with a champagne cocktail, start with small plates of seared Wagyu sirloin and sea urchin served with yuzu rice and wasabi, and kombu and soy-marinated salmon served with truffle and matured cheese. Follow with Akira’s signature bento box, carefully curated with delicate slices of sashimi served in beautiful, bespoke ceramic dishes before the main course heats up the atmosphere with charcoal-grilled skewers and Akira “Chirashi-Sushi” accompanied by miso soup. Finish with a Matcha roll cake for a deliciously Japanese sweet hit. For Japanese-mad lovers, it’s not to be missed.
Akira’s Valentine’s menu is £100 per person, available to book for lunch or dinner from 13th – 15th February. To book, visit Akira’s website here.
A wine-lover’s Valentine’s at Les 110 de Taillevent
Parisian wine and fine dining restaurant Les 110 de Taillevent is celebrating Valentine’s this year with a carefully curated wine and food menu. The Marylebone restaurant takes its wines seriously, with a staggering 110 bins and a very crafted experience. For Valentine’s, there are two different wine flights available, for (slightly) more modest and (slightly) more extravagant price points. The six-course tasting menu includes a Spelt Lobster Risotto and, enticingly, a Whole Roasted Creedy Carver Duck. Put yourself into the hands of the expert sommeliers and sit back for a Valentine’s day that will delight the oenophile in you.
Valentine’s Day at Les 110 de Taillevent is available on 14th February. Prices start from £130pp. To book or for further information, visit Les 110 de Taillevent’s website here.
Love in many forms at Frog by Adam Handling
Frog by Adam Handling, the British chef’s daring Covent Garden venture, is back again this year with its signature Valentine’s Day events – for lovers and confirmed bachelors alike. Handling, group head chef Steven Kerr and Frog head chef Cleverson Cordeiro have put together an exclusive seven-course menu. Highlights include Adam’s signature dish, Mother; Veal sweetbreads, mushroom and lemon; and Wagyu sirloin and caviar. If you want to keep the party going, guests can head downstairs to subterranean sister bar Eve, where there’s an array of innovative and delicious zero-waste cocktails on offer until late.
And for those of you who couldn’t care less about “finding your lobster”, Handling is bringing back his iconic Anti-Valentine’s dinner. Grab some friends and book your seats at the sharing table in The Library private dining room, meet some new people, and delve into sharing bottles of tequila for the table. Naturally, there will be an exceptional five-course menu, prepared for you by your own chefs in the room’s kitchen. It’s guaranteed to wash away the pain of being single – or even celebrate it.
Valentine’s Day and Anti-Valentine’s Day at Frog by Adam Handling will be available on 14th February. For further information or to book, visit Adam Handling’s website here. Photo credit: Tim Green Photography.
A classic taste of Parisian romance at Frenchie
Where better to head for the most romantic night of the year than the effortlessly chic Frenchie, from Paris’s famed chef Gregory Marchand? Seated in comfort in the heart of Covent Garden, enjoy five clever French-meets-British dishes from their Valentine’s weekend menu. The meal includes a glass of champagne, nibbles, and petit fours galore. Think Foie gras pressé, Yorkshire rhubarb, sorrel; Hand-dived scallop en croute, truffle; Carrot gnocchi, yuzu, wild garlic; and a signature Frenchie tart of Banoffee, nutmeg and caramelized pecan.
Frenchie’s Valentine’s menu is available from 14th until 16th February. Seats are £95pp or £85pp vegetarian, with a wine pairing at £50pp. For further information or to book, visit Frenchie’s website here.
Post-Valentine’s Spanish delights at Ibérica Victoria
Ahead of the launch of its brand-new menu in spring 2020, Ibérica Victoria is welcoming diners to enjoy a Valentine’s weekend slice of Spanish sunshine at a one-off 12-course tasting menu. Ibérica’s executive chef Nacho Manzano is flying to the UK specially, with delicious dishes drawing inspiration from Spain and his beloved two-Michelin-starred restaurant, Casa Marcial. Guests can expect Nacho’s new creations to include the likes of meatballs with beef reduction and Manchego sauce; Salt-baked seabass with artichoke tea and a wakame seaweed & cep emulsion; and sautéed enoki mushrooms, cuttlefish and squid ink sauce.
Ibérica’s Valentine’s meal will be available on Saturday 15th February only. Tickets are £120, and sittings are available at 12.30pm and 6.30pm. To book, visit here.
Intimate Italian at Morso
Photos: Cristiana Ferrauti
To mark Valentine’s Day, Morso in St John’s Wood has come up with an exclusive sharing menu for two. Settle in with their small bites, which include a tantalising beef carpaccio and polenta chips, before having your own Lady and the Tramp moment over their spaghetti alle vongole and tagliatelle cacio e pepe. For simple, traditional Italian romance, it can’t be beaten.
Valentine’s dinner at Morso is available on 14th February for £59pp. For further information or to book, visit Morso’s website here.
Seven Park Place by William Drabble at St James’s Hotel & Club
Why just booking a dinner when you can also enjoy a luxurious night at a hotel? St James’s Hotel & Club offers a complete package which includes dinner for two at Michelin-starred restaurant Seven Park Place as well as a deluxe room for two with a welcome bottle of champagne and rose petal turn down. To complete your stay, a full English Breakfast for two is served in the morning.
Valentine’s Day Hotel Package is available for £675. For further information or to book visit St James’s Hotel & Club website here.
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